Police take on Army in their 100th league match

KATHMANDU, June 3: Nepal Police Club (NPC) will be reaching a milestone of 100th league match when the Martyrs Memorial ´A´ Division League Football resumes on Thursday after a month´s break. Police will take on arch rivals Nepal Army Club on Thursday in the second match of the day.

Police started participating in the modern football league from 2003. Among their 99 league appearances, they have won 67, drawn 27 and lost five matches.

However, at an interaction organized by Nepal Sports Journalist Forum (NSJF) to mark the milestone on Wednesday, NPC coach Birat Krishna Shrestha, manager Hari Khadka and captain Rakesh Shrestha were found unaware about the milestone 100th appearance.

After knowing about Thursday´s match, coach Shrestha said, “Along with pressure to win, the match has special meaning for the team. We can´t be sure about the result but we will try to make it in our favor on the historic occasion.”

Police lifted their first league title in the very first season of Shrestha´s tenure in the club. Shrestha took over the coaching responsibility of the club in 2006 as a successor to Yogamber Suwal. Shrestha opined that a team could achieve success only after proper coordination of players, coach and management.

“A team can be developed and balanced only after these three aspects meet at a point,” he said, adding, “Individual talent, luck of players and hard work are also required. Police have all these qualities. The enthusiasm and aggressiveness of players has also contributed to our successful journey.”

Despite the 100th match having special meaning in football, Police taking on Army Thursday, will play their natural match taking it only as another match of the league.

“We will come up with our natural game. Win could steer us towards title,” said coach Shrestha. Police are on the top spot with 41 points after the completion of the 17th match of the ongoing league.

Captain Shrestha as well is excited regarding the 100th match of the team. “I came to know about this here (at the interaction). Such stats are important in motivating players,” said the former captain of the national squad. He also accepted that they would be under more pressure to bring winning result in their 100th league match.

However, he will miss the match as he has been booked twice during the second leg of the league. “Our aim is to win the league and we are capable of that. It is our duty to make 59,000 police personnel and our fans happy,” said Shrestha.

Team manager and former team captain Hari Khadka said that teamwork, discipline and enthusiasm are the main weapons of their team. “Police team has the capacity to score at any time and the management too has an important role in the team´s success,” Khadka said, adding, “Due to good organizational management, the team has achieved numerous successes from the past.”